Monthly Archives: August 2011

Richard Godwin‘s debut novel, Apostle Rising, is a dark as the void between the stars. As black as a killer’s soul. On the surface, Apostle Rising is a police procedural. A serial killer novel. And a damned good one it … Continue reading →

Spare, clean, accurate storytelling from a crime superhero. But not quite on the money for this reviewer. George Pelecanos writes for The Wire. You need to pause there, take that on board. Pelecanos writes for The Wire. That’s only the … Continue reading →

A slow-burn thriller about a man’s life being ripped apart: vivid, authentic, and masterfully written. I turned thirty-seven that summer, older than Dante when he toured Hell, but only by a couple of years. With that typically wry observation, English … Continue reading →

A funny, beautifully written book. But aimed at who exactly? This man has piles and piles of talent, but the result (at least here) isn’t quite satisfying. Michael Marshall is a wonderful, quotable writer. Here’s a snippet: Janine was in … Continue reading →

A terrific battle of wits between two great brains, ending with a lovely trick denouement. This book sold 2,000,000 copies in Japan and catapulted its author to stardom. I can see why. The blurb on the back of the book … Continue reading →

Slow-burning depiction of Glasgow gangland culture Christopher Brookmyre is moving in a new direction. Or should that be Chris is …? He’s dropped the “topher”, you see. No idea why. Probably because I haven’t asked. Taking a stab, it might … Continue reading →

A story that goes off like a Catherine wheel – at speed and spinning through multiple themes that are brought together in a desperate sprint to the finish. Mark Billingham’s popular character, DI Tom Thorne is dragged back into a … Continue reading →

A dark and intense story of sexual awakening and complex relationships Thirteen year olds Lizzie and Evie are true best friends. They do everything together and tell each other everything. But when Evie goes missing, Lizzie realises she doesn’t know … Continue reading →

Missing billions in Iraq, a murdered grifter and a missing banker in London, an assassin, a trio of terrorists and shadowy figures pulling all the strings – a complex fast-paced thriller. The Wreckage is Michael Robotham’s seventh book featuring ex-cop … Continue reading →

About Mean Streets

Mean Streets is a crime fiction review blog, now run by Peter J Earle. It's a collaboration between various crime-addicts, many of whom write crime fiction themselves. We welcome your comments and also welcome new reviewers. Do get in touch!.